Several years after first offering to help run the Mercer County Hospital and Nursing Home, Genesis Health System now owns them both. And as of today they also have new names - Genesis Medical Center Aledo and Genesis Senior Living Aledo.
Hospital administrator, Ted Rogalski, says it all started about four years ago when hospital directors concluded it could no longer operate as a stand-alone facility.
To buy the hospital, Genesis had to take over all its assets and liabilities. For the nursing home, he presented a check today to Mercer County for 2.25 million dollars.
Just yesterday Rogalski reviewed the bids for an 11.7 million dollar remodeling of the hospital's out-patient services.
Together, the two facilities in Aledo employ 230 people. Genesis is holding an open house for the community tonight from 5 until 7 pm.
Rogalski says along with saving the hospital and nursing home from closing, taking over ownership will save Mercer County residents nearly one million dollars a year they used to contribute to the workers' pension plans.